Information for Family and Guests

Otterbein hosts an annual commencement for students receiving degrees at the undergraduate level and an annual commencement for students receiving degrees at the graduate level. The following dates and times are for 2017 graduates.

The graduate ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. (doors open at 1:00 p.m.), Saturday, April 29 in the Rike Center and will last approximately one hour.

The undergraduate ceremony will be held at 12:00 p.m. (doors open at 11:00 a.m.), Sunday, April 30 in the Rike Physical Education Recreation Center and will last approximately two and one-half hours.

Graduate Commencement - Saturday, April 29

1:00 p.m.

Doors to the Rike Center Open- seating is first-come, first-served; there is no reserved seating

1:00 p.m.

Hooding Process Begins- Clements Recreation Center

1:25 p.m.

Commencement March to the Rike Center Begins- line forms in Clements Recreation Center.

1:30 p.m.

Commencement- Rike Center (concludes approx 2:30 p.m.)

Approx 2:30 p.m.

Reception - Clements Recreation Center

Undergraduate Commencement - Sunday, April 30

9:00 - 9:45 a.m.

Baccalaureate- Cowan Hall

9:45 - 11:30 a.m.

Commencement Brunch- Campus Center

10:45 - 11:30 a.m.

Departmental Honors Pins (if applicable) distributed in front of Towers Hall if not received prior to commencement from the Department Chairperson

11:00 a.m.

Doors to Rike Center Open- seating is first-come, first-served; there is no reserved seating

Commencement March Across Campus Begins- line forms in front of Towers Hall; rain location is Clements Center

12:00 noon

Commencement- Rike Center (concludes approx 2:30 p.m.)

Baccalaureate Service

A Baccalaureate Service will be held at 9:00 a.m. in Cowan Hall on Sunday, April 30. Both undergraduate and graduate students and their guests are invited to attend. Members of the graduating class and faculty will constitute a major part of the program. Academic regalia and a procession are not part of the Baccalaureate Service.

Tickets

While tickets are not required for the graduate ceremony, they are required for the undergraduate ceremony. They must be requested by the graduating student and picked up in person by the graduating student. Extra tickets are not available. View the Rike Center layout for commencement.

Don't forget that undergraduate commencement will be streamed live for virtual access to the ceremony starting at 12 noon EST and concluding around 2 p.m. (see the top of this page for the stream).

Order Brunch Tickets by April 24

A brunch will be held between the Baccalaureate Service and the Bachelor's Commencement on Sunday, April 30, from 9:45-11:30 a.m. for all graduates and their guests. Tickets are on sale in the Campus Center Office and online.

Parking

Family and guests may park in any campus lot. See the campus map for the location of parking lots.

Special Needs Drop-Off for Commencement: Guests who would have difficulty walking from the parking lot to the Rike Center can be dropped off at the west doors of the Rike Center opposite Davis Annex. This entryway is closest to the area where special needs guests will be seated (which is in comfortable chairs directly behind the graduates on the main floor). Those with special hearing needs can be dropped off at the front of the Rike. This entryway is closest to the area where you will be sitting (which is at the front in bleacher seating). Map of the Rike Center special needs seating.

Lodging

Professional Photographer

Grad Images is the University's official commencement photographer. Two pictures will be taken of each graduate who will then be contacted directly by Grad Images within one to two weeks after the ceremony. Grad Images may be contacted via their website or at 1-800-424-3686.

/ Registrar

The Office of the Registrar is located in Towers Hall, Room 27.
registrar@otterbein.edu
p/ 614.823.1350
f/ 614.823.1009